Dosing and Dispensing Device for Liquid Detergent

ABSTRACT

A dosing and dispensing device for liquid detergent comprises a hollow body having a portion comprising a flexible material, wherein at least one slit is provided in the flexible portion for dispensing the product, and means to spread at least a portion of the contained liquid detergent onto a surface of fabric. The slit is (progressively) opened when pressure is applied to said device on a surface to which the liquid detergent is applied. The opening is substantially closed when said pressure stops.

PRODUCT

The present invention relates to a dosing and dispensing device forliquid laundry detergents. The device according to the present inventionis particularly adapted to pretreat fabrics with a portion of liquiddetergent.

Dispensing devices for liquid detergent, which are to be introduced withthe fabrics in the washing machine, are well known in the prior art. Itis also known that it is possible to achieve a greater effectiveness inrespect of stain removal by pretreating the fabrics without consuming agreater amount of liquid detergent. Pretreatment means that a certainamount of detergent is applied directly onto the dirty parts of saidfabrics before they are washed in the machine. In the following thesedevices are called “pretreatment devices”. In the following detergentmeans a detergent composition for the treatment of fabrics. Thisdetergent composition may comprise washing additives, like beaches,enzymes and/or others known in the art.

Various pretreatment devices for liquid detergent are described in theprior art, for example in WO 92/09736 and WO 92/09737.These devicesallow an application of said liquid detergent onto the fabrics beforethe washing cycle either with predetermined outlets or a removablepretreatment applicator respectively. Another approach is represented byEP-A-575 714. This document describes another pretreatment device forliquid detergent with a fixed applicator in form of a roller ball. Thisroller ball is able to spread the contained liquid detergent only in apredetermined direction.

The pretreating devices mentioned before allow an even spreading of thecontained liquid detergent onto the fabric, i.e. the spread quantity isalways the same. This way of even spreading does not consider thatdifferent stains need a different amount of liquid detergent duringpretreatment. For example, stains can be made of certain constituentswhich need a more thorough pretreatment to increase its effectiveness.This can be achieved by applying a greater amount of the liquiddetergent. A greater quantity is also needed depending on the dimensionsof the stain itself. Therefore, we found that the effectiveness of stainremoval is increased when a greater amount of pretreating detergent isapplied upon the soiled surface of the fabric, since said surface can bepretreated more thoroughly.

It is not possible with the pretreatment devices of the prior art toadjust the amount of liquid detergent on the specific needs. Indeed, theoutlets having a fixed aperture or the applicators, being for example asponge, do not give the possibility to vary the quantity of liquiddetergent to be spread on the fabric for a thorough pre-treatment/tocontrol the amount of detergent such that eventual damages to fabrics(i.e. fading, etc.) can be avoided. It is therefore the object of thepresent invention to provide a device with an adjustable flow of thecontained liquid detergent for the pretreatment.

It is an object of the present invention to obviate/mitigate theproblems outlined above.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided adosing and dispensing device for liquid detergent comprising a hollowbody having a portion comprising a flexible material, wherein at leastone slit is provided in the flexible portion for dispensing the product,and means to spread at least a portion of the contained liquid detergentonto a surface of fabric, wherein said slit is (progressively) openedwhen lateral pressure is applied to said device on a surface to whichthe liquid detergent is applied, and said opening being substantiallyclosed when said pressure stops.

It has been found that the container of the invention is particularlyadvantageous in that the amount of detergent dosed from the device andthe spreading of the detergent onto the surface being treated issurprisingly beneficial. These benefits include quick/advanced controlof discharge of the detergent from the device by the application/removalof pressure applied thereto. Additionally the device of the invention isable to provide a rubbing/scrubbing action as well as the application ofpressure.

Generally the opening is located in the bottom part of said device. Thisallows dosing of the detergent (aided by gravity) onto the surface beingtreated. To achieve this aim preferably the portion of flexible materialis located in the bottom part of said device.

Preferably the device comprises several openings. This allows effectivedosage and spreading of the detergent onto the surface being treated.

It is preferred that the openings are in the form of a slit valve. Suchslit valves are understood to be capable of being opened when pressureis applied thereto. The pressure applied may be in the form of contactpressure against a surface or translational pressure (or a combinationthereof) caused by movement relative to a surface.

Each slit valve may have one or more preferably a plurality of separateslit openings (these may be arranged perpendicularly to one other—inthis way it is possible to achieve dosing of the detergent even when thedirection of rubbing is perpendicular to some of the slit valves (i.e.for any rubbing direction some valves will be in the best condition towork)), (ideally about two openings for enhanced discharge ofdetergent). Where more than one slit opening is present it can be thatthe openings are not of an equivalent size.

Preferably the slit valve is co-planar with the surface of the flexibleportion. The flexible portion may be planar. Optionally the flexibleportion is in the form of a portion of a sphere/spheroid.

To improve the penetration/spreading of the detergent into the (usuallyfabric surface) being treated it is preferred that the device(preferably on the flexible portion) comprises a spreading means.Preferably the spreading means is in the form of a ridge. The ridge maybe liner or may be curved. Generally a plurality of ridges is present onthe device.

In order to be capable of being used by a consumer generally the devicecomprises a gripping means. The gripping means preferably comprises themain body of the device, into which the detergent is poured. The mainbody of the device is preferably shaped so that it is capable of fittinginto a hand of a user yet may contain sufficient detergent for apre-treatment and laundry step. The main body thus has a volume of from50-200 cm³. The main body may comprise any geometrical shape but isgenerally based on an ovoid, tapering towards its upper opening (intowhich the detergent is poured) and also at its lower end (which adjoinsonto the flexible portion).

Generally the device is made of elastic plastic material. The main bodymay comprise PP, PE or PET (both injected or blow moulded).

The ridges and the valves may comprise any rubber or elastomer suitablefor being welded, melted or glued onto the main body.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provideda process for pretreating and washing fabrics in a washing machine withthe dosing and dispensing device according to any of the precedingclaims, characterized in that it comprises of the following steps: adose of the total quantity of liquid detergent to be utilized during thepretreatment and washing cycle is introduced into the dosing anddispensing device; pretreatment of the fabrics is executed with acontrolled quantity of the liquid detergent dosage contained in saiddevice and dispensed from said device through said cut; the thuspretreated fabrics are placed in the drum of the washing machinetogether with said dosing and dispensing device and with othernon-pretreated fabrics.

Most preferably the device is for a laundry cleaning formulation and foruse in dispensing same onto a clothing surface.

Preferably the laundry cleaning formulation comprises a bleach, e.g. inan amount of from 0.001% to 99.99%, preferably 0.001% to 20%, preferably4% to 18%, e.g. most preferably about 4.5% or 13%, by weight, of bleach.The bleach is preferably peroxide bleach, most preferably hydrogenperoxide. Peroxide sources other than H₂O₂ can be used.

Preferably the laundry cleaning formulation comprises a surfactant.Where present the composition comprises from 0.001% to 99.99%,preferably 0.05% to 15%, e.g. about 7%, by weight of surfactant.

The surfactant is, for example, an anionic or nonionic surfactant ormixture thereof (most preferably a nonionic surfactant). The non-ionicsurfactant is preferably a surfactant having a formula RO(CH₂CH₂O)_(n)Hwherein R is a mixture of linear, even carbon-number hydrocarbon chainsranging from C₁₂H₂₅ to C₁₆H₃₃ and n represents the number of repeatingunits and is a number of from about 1 to about 12. Examples of othernon-ionic surfactants include higher aliphatic primary alcoholcontaining about twelve to about 16 carbon atoms which are condensedwith about three to thirteen moles of ethylene oxide.

Other examples of nonionic surfactants include primary alcoholethoxylates (available under the Neodol trade name from Shell Co.), suchas C₁₁ alkanol condensed with 9 moles of ethylene oxide (Neodol 1-9),C₁₂₋₁₃ alkanol condensed with 6.5 moles ethylene oxide (Neodol 23-6.5),C₁₂₋₁₃ alkanol with 9 moles of ethylene oxide (Neodol 23-9), C12-15alkanol condensed with 7 or 3 moles ethylene oxide (Neodol 25-7 orNeodol 25-3), C₁₄₋₁₅ alkanol condensed with 13 moles ethylene oxide(Neodol 45-13), C₉₋₁₁ linear ethoxylated alcohol, averaging 2.5 moles ofethylene oxide per mole of alcohol (Neodol 91-2.5), and the like.

Other examples of nonionic surfactants suitable for use in the presentinvention include ethylene oxide condensate products of secondaryaliphatic alcohols containing 11 to 18 carbon atoms in a straight orbranched chain configuration condensed with 5 to 30 moles of ethyleneoxide. Examples of commercially available non-ionic detergents of theforegoing type are C₁₁₋₁₅ secondary alkanol condensed with either 9moles of ethylene oxide (Tergitol 15-S-9) or 12 moles of ethylene oxide(Tergitol 15-S-12) marketed by Un-ion Carbide, a subsidiary of DowChemical.

Octylphenoxy polyethoxyethanol type nonionic surfactants, for example,Triton X-100, as well as amine oxides can also be used as a nonionicsurfactant in the present invention.

Other examples of linear primary alcohol ethoxylates are available underthe Tomadol trade name such as, for example, Tomadol 1-7, a C₁₁ linearprimary alcohol ethoxylate with 7 moles EO; Tomadol 25-7, a C₁₂-C₁₅linear primary alcohol ethoxylate with 7 moles EO; Tomadol 45-7, aC₁₄-C₁₅ linear primary alcohol ethoxylate with 7 moles EO; and Tomadol91-6, a C₉-C₁₁ linear alcohol ethoxylate with 6 moles EO.

Other examples of linear primary alcohol ethoxylates are available underthe Lutensol trade name such as, for example, Lutensol A3N, a C₁₃-₁₅linear primary alcohol ethoxylate with 3 moles EO; Lutensol LA60, aC₁₃-₁₅ linear primary alcohol ethoxylate with 7 moles EO. Also Genapolsuch as, for example, Genapol LA3, a C₁₃-₁₅ linear primary alcoholethoxylate with 3 moles EO; Genapol LA070, a C₁₃-₁₅ linear primaryalcohol ethoxylate with 7 moles EO

Tomadol 45-7, a C₁₄-C₁₅ linear primary alcohol ethoxylate with 7 molesEO; and Tomadol 91-6, a C₉-C₁₁ linear alcohol ethoxylate with 6 molesEO.

Other nonionic surfactants are amine oxides, alkyl amide oxidesurfactants.

Preferred anionic surfactants are frequently provided as alkali metalsalts, ammonium salts, amine salts, aminoalcohol salts or magnesiumsalts. Contemplated as useful are one or more sulfate or sulfonatecompounds including: alkyl benzene sulfates, alkyl sulfates, alkyl ethersulfates, alkylamidoether sulfates, alkylaryl polyether sulfates,monoglyceride sulfates, alkylsulfonates, alkylamide sulfonates,alkylarylsulfonates, olefinsulfonates, paraffin sulfonates, alkylsulfosuccinates, alkyl ether sulfosuccinates, alkylamidesulfosuccinates, alkyl sulfosuccinamate, alkyl sulfoacetates, alkylphosphates, alkyl ether phosphates, acyl sarconsinates, acylisethionates, and N-acyl taurates. Generally, the alkyl or acyl radicalin these various compounds comprise a carbon chain containing 12 to 20carbon atoms.

Other surfactants which may be used are alkyl naphthalene sulfonates andacyl/oleoyl sarcosinates and mixtures thereof.

The laundry cleaning formulation may comprise various optionalingredients, including enzymes, builders, solvents, dye transferinhibition agents, dye catchers, preservatives, anti-oxidants,anti-static agents, fragrances, odour absorbing components, opticalbrighteners, acidifying agents, alkalizing agents, thickeners (e.g.hydroxyethylcellulose and/or xanthan gum).

The container of the invention is further described by reference to thefollowing FIGURES in which:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a device in accordancewith the invention.

From FIG. 1 it can be seen that the device 1 comprises a main bodysection 2 in the form of a modified cylinder and a flexible body portion3. These are joined together to form a dosing device forretaining/dosing a liquid (detergent) composition.

The main body 2 is able to act as a handle for use by a consumer. Themain body has an opening 4 for introduction of detergent into the deviceand release of detergent in a (laundry) washing cycle.

The flexible body portion 3 comprises a plurality of slit valves 5disposed on its lower surface. The slit valves 5 have openings 6 thatmay be opened by the application of pressure (contact and/ortranslational) on a surface. The flexible body portion 3 also comprisesa plurality of curved spreading ridges 7 on its lower surface.

In use a dose of the total quantity of liquid detergent to be utilizedduring the pretreatment and washing cycle is introduced into the device1. Pretreatment of fabrics is executed with a controlled quantity of theliquid detergent dosage contained in said device 1 being dispensed fromsaid device 1 through said valves 5. This is achieved by pressing andrubbing the device 1 on the fabric surface to be treated, thus causingrelease of detergent and spreading of same (aided by the ridges 7) onthe surface being treated. The thus pretreated fabrics are placed in thedrum of the washing machine together with said dosing and dispensingdevice 1 and with other non-pretreated fabrics. A washing cycle may thenbe operated.

1. A dosing and dispensing device for a liquid detergent comprising a hollow body having a portion comprising a flexible material, wherein at least one slit is provided in the flexible portion for dispensing the product, and means to spread at least a portion of the contained liquid detergent onto a surface of fabric, wherein said slit is (progressively) opened when lateral pressure is applied to said device on a surface to which the liquid detergent is applied, and said opening being substantially closed when said pressure stops.
 2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said slit s located in the bottom part of said device.
 3. A device according claim 1, wherein the device comprises a plurality of slits.
 4. A device according to claim 3, wherein the slits are arranged in a regular pattern.
 5. A device according to claim 1, wherein each slit has a size of 0.1 to 10 mm.
 6. A device according to claim 1, wherein said portion of flexible material is located in the bottom part of said device.
 7. A device according to claim 1, wherein said device further comprises rubbing ridges.
 8. A device according to claim 1, wherein said device further comprises gripping means.
 9. A device according claim 1, wherein said device is made of elastic plastic material.
 10. A process for pretreating and washing fabrics in a washing machine with the dosing and dispensing device according to claim 1, the process comprising the steps of: introducing a dose of the total quantity of liquid detergent to be utilized during the pretreatment and washing cycle into the dosing and dispensing device; pretreating fabrics with a controlled quantity of the liquid detergent dosage contained in said device which is dispensed from said device through said slit; placing the pretreated fabrics in the drum of the washing machine together with said dosing and dispensing device and optionally further with other non-pretreated fabrics. 